PharmaEngine, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company established in Taipei, Taiwan in 2003, and funded by TTY Biopharm and Taiwan venture capitals. PharmaEngine adopts the business model of “no research, development only” and focuses on the development of new drugs for the treatment of cancer and Asian prevalent diseases. The company is led by Mr. Rong-Jin Lin and Dr. Grace Yeh, as well as supported by reputable advisors and consultants.

In 2003, PharmaEngine licensed the exclusive rights to develop and commercialize PEP02 in Asia from Hermes Biosciences, Inc. (South San Francisco, CA), and subsequently expanded the territory to Europe in 2005. Hermes retained the rights in North America and all other territories. Hermes BioSciences, Inc. was acquired by Merrimack in 2009. In May 2011, PharmaEngine and Merrimack execution of an agreement under which PharmaEngine grants back to Merrimack the rights to develop, manufacture, and commercialize PEP02 (known under the designation of MM-398 by Merrimack) in Asia and Europe, with the exception of Taiwan. PharmaEngine is eligible for US$10 million upfront and upto US$210 million milestone payments, as well tiered royalties.

PEP02 is a novel and highly stable nanoliposomal formulation of irinotecan. PharmaEngine has tested PEP02 in several human clinical studies to date, including four phase I studies and two phase II studies in gastric and pancreatic cancers. Both phase II studies met their primary endpoints of response rate and 3-month survival. Based on PEP02 clinical data, the clinical development plan of PEP02 is to explore pancreatic, lung, colorectal, gastric, and brain cancers. The broad anti-tumor activity of PEP02 in a variety of cancer types with large potential markets (> US$ 1 billion) is commercially attractive.

Currently, we are actively seeking potential new drug candidates fitted in our company strategy, aiming to develop innovative products and efforts in-license oncology projects in preclinical to phase II stages.